SMU Hit With NCAA Violations, Sanctions
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DALLAS (CBS11) - The NCAA has imposed sanctions against SMU's men's basketball and men's golf teams after finding violations against men's head basketball coach Larry Brown and three former staff members.
During a news conference Tuesday, SMU's President Gerald Turner expressed how many on campus feel. "This is obviously a disappointing day for the SMU family."
Regarding the men's basketball team, the NCAA's Committee on Infractions found a former administrative assistant completed an online course on behalf of a high school student who verbally agreed to attend SMU.
The school says it was an isolated incident and that the administrative assistant resigned in September, 2014.
SMU says coach Brown had no knowledge of the incident involving the administrative assistant.
But the NCAA did find Brown failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance within the men's basketball program and didn't report a potential violation.
As a result, Brown has been suspended for 30% of games this season and won't be able to contact the team while he's suspended.
The men's basketball team is also banned from any post-season play for one year.
SMU's Athletics Director Rick Hart says when he told the players when he met with them Tuesday morning. "It was very emotional, understandably, unexpected, unfair.
They reacted very strongly to have an opportunity taken from them that they deemed very special."
The NCAA's committee also found violations committed in the men's golf program.
SMU acknowledges a former head golf coach had impermissible contact with prospective student athletes and gave or sold at a discount equipment and clothing to prospective student-athletes.
Turner said, "Individuals, if they chose to violate rules, can choose to do so, and this is a situation several noted that they knew what the rules were and they chose to go in another direction."
Student Lori Landes says, "I just wonder why they're picking on SMU. I feel there's a lot of other people doing the exact same thing and for whatever reason, they have their eye on SMU."
Around campus, students like Daniel Shnider said SMU should appeal the sanctions. "I think they should. They should absolutely fight something like this. But the appeal process is very long, so who knows how long that will take and if it'll justify the means of appealing."
Turner called the sanctions unfair because most of the student athletes had no involvement with any of the issues resulting in violations and sanctions.
The school has 15 days to decide whether to appeal.
Turner said administrators have a lot to consider. "If you don't win the appeal, does it still apply to that year? We don't want it carrying on to another year."
SMU has faced even tougher sanctions.
In 1987, the NCAA cancelled the men's football team for the entire season after concluding some athletes received under the table payments during a ten year period.
On Tuesday, the Turner said, "We as an institution have to accept responsibility for all violations. We are committed to excellence. We're committed to be in compliance with NCAA standards."
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